Joy's Return (Unconventional Series #4)

By Verna Clay

Joy Abigail Ryder has a dream to travel and paint the West, just as her father Jake Ryder did when he was her age. Being the year 1920, societal restrictions are not as cumbersome as they once were a decade or two earlier, but still, is she ready to travel westward as an unchaperoned female for an extended period of time? Her sweet grandmother Abby is the one who convinces her to follow her heart.

Dr. Walker Flemming's wife died in a horse accident a year ago and his daughter hasn't spoken a word since. When he meets a young woman in the general store who claims that his five year old talked to her...he is stunned! However, his aunt, having previously encountered the woman on a train, denigrates her character. Walker doesn't know whom to believe. Should he take a chance and ask the young lady to give his daughter art lessons, hoping his baby will speak again? That is, if she even did so in the first place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Verna Clay
• Release date: Oct 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310072741

Verna Clay

"2020 Finalist - Readers' Favorite International Contest (Paranormal Romance) for SOMEWHERE by the Sea.""2014 Gold Medal Winner - Readers' Favorite International Contest (Historical Romance) for Abby: Mail Order Bride."My perfect day: coffee shop; laptop; latte; characters demanding their stories be told; a plot that comes together; and hours to live in an alternate reality.Seriously, I have always loved reading, and now I love writing. As a preteen, I devoured Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Mysteries. When I reached my teen years, the romance genre became my favorite and that has never changed. After years of procrastinating, I tried my hand at writing and I've been doing so with a passion ever since. I have written over thirty romance novels and novellas in the genres of contemporary, contemporary western, historical western, fantasy, and paranormal. Because I hate saying goodbye to characters who have lived with me for months, I usually create a series so they can be revisited from book to book. I have also written a Young Adult novella titled "Fragile Hearts" using the pen name of Colleen Clay.

Book preview

Preface

It has been almost two years since I completed the previous book in this series, Ryder's Salvation. While I was putting finishing touches on a book in another series, the heroine of Joy's Return began talking to me about her frustration of feeling trapped by a life dictated to women by society. She was desperate to make me understand that she wants to travel and paint, just as her father, Jake Ryder, had done at her age. So, I decided to listen.

But then, another voice, a male one, began conveying the sadness he felt over losing his wife in a freak accident. When he told me about his five-year-old daughter, who hadn't spoken since her mother's death, I began to wonder if a woman who wants to experience the world, might possibly feel a greater calling to help a brokenhearted child. And what would happen if she fell in love with the child's father. I also wondered if Joy was that special woman to return joyful hearts to this family.

You've probably already guessed the outcome of this story, but it's the journey of arriving there that makes one laugh and weep.

Oh, yes, I also tied this series to the Finding Home series to catch up with Cooper and Hallie Jerome, now in their eighties. I just couldn't help myself. And lest I forget, I created a genealogy chart so readers (and me, too) could keep track of this enlarging family.

Verna Clay

Table of Contents

Preface

Genealogy

Chapter One: It's a Family Tradition

Chapter Two: Decision

Chapter Three: Farewells and Good Wishes

Chapter Four: Chastisement

Chapter Five: Arrival

Chapter Six: Seeing the Invisible

Chapter Seven: Painting Heaven

Chapter Eight: Who Is She?

Chapter Nine: Murphy

Chapter Ten: Arrangement

Chapter Eleven: Dead Set Against It

Chapter Twelve: Pearly Gates

Chapter Thirteen: Lavender

Chapter Fourteen: Under the Petals

Chapter Fifteen: A Month of Sundays

Chapter Sixteen: Soon Departure

Chapter Seventeen: Admission

Chapter Eighteen: His Blasted Conscience

Chapter Nineteen: Thunderstorm

Chapter Twenty: Under the Canopy

Chapter Twenty-One: Dressed like the Little People

Chapter Twenty-Two: Aunt Zena Speaks

Chapter Twenty-Three: Letters

Chapter Twenty-Four: Cookie

Chapter Twenty-Five: Fried Chicken

Chapter Twenty-Six: If Wishes were Horses…

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hellish Coffee

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Aliza

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Walker Meets Ryder

Chapter Thirty: Thunderbird Mountain

Chapter Thirty-One: Close Behind

Chapter Thirty-Two: Stalkers

Chapter Thirty-Three: Culmination

Chapter Thirty-Four: Continuation

Chapter Thirty-Five: Confessions

Chapter Thirty-Six: Fairy Tale Wedding

Epilogue

Surprise Guest

Author's Note

Cry of the West: Hallie (excerpt) Finding Home Series

Stranded In Oasis (excerpt) Oasis Series

Novels and Novellas by Verna Clay

Genealogy

Chapter One: It's a Family Tradition

Spring 1919

Joy Abigail Ryder stood beside her grandmother, Abby Samson, and glanced lovingly at the gathering of family members. In all of her twenty-three years, no one in her family, unless they were ill, had missed the annual trek to the graves under the old oak on her grandparents' property. The visitation always took place on the birthday of Molly Samson, her grandfather's first wife, who had birthed Joy's mother, her Uncle Luke, and her Uncle Ty, who had died as a toddler.

Her eyes, alighting on the newest grave, released a floodgate of tears. Only four months had passed since the burial of her beloved grandfather, Brant Samson. Sometimes, Joy missed him so much she cried herself to sleep.

Lowering her lashes, she glanced sideways at her Grammy Abby to see how she was faring. At that moment, her grandmother appeared to be doing better than everyone else. Joy reached to squeeze her hand and the sweetest woman Joy had ever known, firmly squeezed back.

As tradition dictated, each family member, if so inclined, would speak to their dear departed loved ones. Everyone waited for Abby to begin.

In a voice made beautiful with years of wisdom, Abby said, Brant, honey, we're all here. And although we miss you dearly, we know you're with loved ones. Your death was unexpected, but you died on the land you loved, doing what you loved, riding your favorite horse across your grassy hills. I wish I could have been there to say goodbye, but I know you visited me in spirit before moving on to be with those we so faithfully visit each year. I knew the moment your heart stopped beating, so I was prepared by the time Luke galloped to the ranch.

Joy glanced at her Uncle Luke to see tears streaming down his cheeks, which released a fresh wave of her own, and she lifted a hankie to blot her eyes.

Abby gave Joy's hand another squeeze and continued. So, my darling husband, we are all here and I pray that our tradition continues throughout many lifetimes. She glanced at the grave beside Brant's. Molly, it may seem strange for the second wife to pay homage to the first wife, but as always, I thank you for being the kind of woman Brant could love so dearly, and for the beautiful children you birthed.

Abby released Joy's hand and stepped toward another, smaller grave. She knelt and placed her hands over words etched into the stone marker, BELOVED BABY BOY. The tears she had yet to shed found release in her voice. My sweet, sweet, baby Ty, you are once again in your father's arms and before many years pass, you will be in mine, also.

Joy lifted a hand to her mouth. She couldn't begin to comprehend the death of her grandmother.

Abby lowered her head and now her shoulders shook with heartbreak. Luke stepped forward and knelt beside his stepmother, placing his arm around her. Quietly, his half-brothers, Rusty and James, joined him. Rusty positioned himself on the other side of his mother and James knelt behind her. Next, Joy's mother knelt beside James. And finally, Abby and Brant's adopted son, Nate, joined his brothers and sister. Abby's children had cocooned her in love.

Except for quiet sobs, the only sound was wind rustling leaves in the ancient oak that had stood as a powerful guardian over the family burial site since the beginning. Joy shifted her gaze from Abby and those kneeling, to the rest of her family.

Rusty's wife stood beside James' wife and both women blotted their eyes with handkerchiefs. Rusty's three boys, ages seven, eight, and nine, and James' two girls, ages ten and eleven, stood behind their mothers. Across from them, Nate's wife held their newborn son. Her Uncle Nate hadn't married until the previous year at the age of thirty-five to a much younger woman, and if the sweet girl hadn't been so persistent in pursuing him, he might still be single.

Joy moved her gaze to her cousins Evangeline and Charity, the daughters of her Uncle Luke and Aunt Angel. Like Joy, Eva—short for Evangeline—had never married, even though both women were well into their twenties, with Eva being a year older. Charity, three years younger than Joy, had married a local boy a couple of years back. Heavy with child, she leaned against her husband and turned her face into his chest. He reached his arm around her shoulders offering comfort.

Next, Joy sought out her father, Jake Ryder. She loved her parents dearly and appreciated the fact that they had never tried to hide their turbulent past. She knew her mother had been unwed when she'd birthed Joy. When Joy was three, however, her father had arrived at Luke's Ranch, aptly named, Slice of Heaven, looking for Jenny. He'd just discovered he was a father and was determined to marry her. Jenny had resisted him in a desperate attempt to preserve her heart, but Ryder had been persistent and eventually won her over.

Joy found it difficult to believe that her parents had ever been on the outs with each other. They were so loving and considerate of one another. Both were accomplished artists with no competition or jealousy marring their relationship.

Joy's reminiscences ended when Abby, assisted by her children, rose to her feet. In a clear voice she declared, I've said my peace. Luke, would you like to go next?

Yes, Ma.

For the next hour, each family member said whatever was in their heart. When it was Joy's turn, she dabbed her eyes with her hankie and said, Gramps, I miss you so much that it hurts. I remember how you used to toss me in the air and catch me when I was little. I remember how you used to tickle me and Grammy and make us laugh until we couldn't breathe. I remember how tall you looked on your horse. I remember– her voice cracked, I remember how proud you always were of Ma's and Pa's paintings and mine, too. And I want you to know that whenever I paint, I'll be thinking of you. She could no longer stifle a sob. You're forever in my heart, Gramps.

Joy felt arms encircle her and it was then that she allowed her sorrow to find release against her Grammy Abby's breast.

Chapter Two: Decision

Joy brought her grandmother the cup of tea she'd steeped and dashed a dollop of cream into. Joy's own tea was liberally laced with sugar. Her Grandpa Brandt had always teased her about her sweet tooth.

Handing the china cup to Grammy Abby who was resting in her rocking chair in front of the unlit hearth, she knelt on her knees beside her and cradled her own cup. This had been her favorite spot growing up. Abby would gently rock while talking to Brandt in the other rocking chair, and Joy would contentedly read a book. Her Uncle Luke had collected hundreds of books and publications, many of which were dime novels that thrilled her. His own publications were also thrilling and she'd devoured them when she was old enough. However, her grammy, having been a teacher in Philadelphia before coming to Texas, had encouraged her to read great literary works, insisting that her education wouldn't be complete without doing so. Joy had read most of the classics, but her heart always returned to the adventure stories of the Wild West.

Now, lazing beside Abby, she sipped her tea, set it in the saucer next to her on the floor, and then rested her head on her grandmother's lap.

Abby gently stroked her granddaughter's hair, and asked, Joy, are you ready to tell me what's bothering you?

Joy smiled against Abby's knee. How do you always know when something's going on with loved ones?

Abby laughed softly, a sound that always reminded Joy of tinkling chimes, and responded, "I think the key words are loved ones. Love knows all things. So, my sweetness, are you ready to talk?"

Joy nodded against the soft cloth of Abby's old dressing gown. I feel… She choked up. "I feel restless. I want to do something."

Abby remained silent.

Joy blinked back tears. My father traveled the West painting its wonders; my mother traveled to New York, a place she'd never been, to study at my father's art academy; my Uncle Luke traveled everywhere writing his stories; my Aunt Angel was on her way to San Francisco when she met Luke. She fingered a tear. And you, Grammy, you came west after answering an advertisement for a mail order bride. She gave a little sob. I've never done anything.

Abby continued smoothing Joy's hair. After a moment, she said, "Then you must do something. What is it that burns in your heart, little one?"

Joy's voice hitched. I…I want to travel like my father and paint the West. Oh, I know it's not the same now with the railroads and modernity, but I just know there are still places that would take my breath away they're so beautiful.

Abby placed a finger under Joy's chin and lifted her head. Then you shall paint those places. We must make plans for your departure.

Joy's eyes widened. But what about Mama and Daddy?

What about them? Are you living their life or your own?

A creak caused both women to glance toward the other rocking chair where Brandt used to sit. The chair imperceptibly rocked. Joy jerked her gaze to Abby's.

Abby smiled. See, your grandfather agrees with me.

Chapter Three: Farewells and Good Wishes

Joy watched the approach of the evening train in Bingham, the county center. Her entire family had ridden the recently completed short line railroad from Two Rivers to Bingham to see her off. It had been Grammy Abby's idea that a railroad jaunt would be a grand adventure for the family and it would give everyone time to prepare themselves for Joy's departure westward.

The time spent with her family had been filled with laughter, joy, and tears. Her mother and father had issued warnings about speaking to strangers, her Uncle Luke and Aunt Angel had made her promise to write at least weekly, her cousins Eva and Charity had told her how brave she was, and her grammy had